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Argentina ease through, Australia face wait

Argentina overwhelmed Australia 7-1 to progress to the knockout phase as Group D runners-up and leave their opponents facing an anxious wait to discover whether they will go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

It took just 43 seconds for the deadlock to be broken. Australia goalkeeper Peter Spathis made a mess of an attempted clearance, which cannoned off Cristian Borruto and crept in.

Steven Knight’s charges were back on level terms on six minutes. A fine long pass fom Gregory Giovenali freed Tobias Seeto, whose powerful, low strike went into the back of Santiago Elias’s net.

That goal was greeted by loud roars from the Australian supporters, but it would be the last thing they had to cheer in Bangkok.

Leandro Cuzzolino played a give-and-go with Borruto before slotting home to put Argentina 2-1, and Matias Lucuix ensured they went in at the break at a two-goal advantage.

The Australians had the better of the possession after the restart but while they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, the Argentinians were clinical. Indeed Alamiro Vaporaki, Hernan Garcias and Martin Amas all got on the score-sheet, before Borruto’s second of the game sealed a 7-1 victory for Ferando Larranaga’s men.

Argentina now face the Group E winners – either Serbia, Egypt or Czech Republic – on Monday.

The quotes“My analysis is simple: we were beaten by a much better team. The positive side is the competence we showed against Italy and Argentina, two of the best teams in the world," Steven Knight, Australia coach.

“We were disorganised during the first half, but the third goal calmed us down. We played better in the second half, and we even had time to try a few things in term of the next game. From now on there are no more easy matches,"Fernando Larrañaga, Argentina coach.